Man Arrested for Brutal Assault on Schoolgirl Over Mango Theft in Maiduguri
By: Zagazola Makama
A man identified as Mamman Shettima Baba has been arrested for brutally beating a young schoolgirl for plucking mangoes from a compound in the Pompomari Housing Estate of Maiduguri.
The incident, captured on video and circulated widely on social media, showed Shettima Baba repeatedly flogging the girl with a thick stick while his wife recorded the assault, encouraging him to “beat her more.”
According to eyewitnesses, the girl and her friends were on their way home from school when they noticed an open gate with a mango tree inside. Acting on youthful curiosity, they entered the compound and picked some mangoes. However, some Almajiri children caught one of the girls and handed her over to the woman residing in the house. She, in turn, ordered her husband to violently punish the child.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) responded swiftly to the viral video and arrested the suspect.
The Commandant of the Corps, Abdulrazaq Haroon, confirmed the arrest and added that during preliminary investigations, Shettima Baba confessed to the assault, justifying his actions by claiming that students had been persistently plucking mangoes from his tree.
The brutality of the attack, however, has sparked public outrage, with legal practitioners, child rights activists, and government officials demanding strict legal action against the suspect.
In response to the attack, Hamza Nuhu Dantani, a legal practitioner, has petitioned the Borno State Commissioner of Police, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect.
The petition outlines charges of culpable homicide, assault, criminal intimidation, and causing grievous hurt, citing violations of the Borno State Penal Code Law, 2023. It also accuses the suspect of attempted homicide and calls for: The immediate arrest and prosecution of Shettima Baba. A full investigation to identify and prosecute any accomplices. Medical and psychological support for the traumatized young victim. A public warning against violence and abuse of minors.
Meanwhile, The Borno State Commissioner of Education, Lawan Abbah Wakilbe, and the Commissioner of Justice have both assured the public that justice will be served.
Wakilbe gave the assurance when he visited the NSCSC command and commend the officers for the swift intervention.
My take;
Despite public outcry and legal provisions protecting minors, cases of human rights abuses in Borno State often fail to reach their logical conclusion.
Many perpetrators walk free due to political influence, connections with high-ranking officials, or social stigma that discourages victims from seeking justice. In several past cases, suspects were released without trial, while victims or their families were pressured into withdrawing complaints.
The culture of impunity surrounding child abuse, domestic violence, and police brutality in the state has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the legal system in holding offenders accountable.
Observers are closely watching how this latest case will be handled, as many believe it could set a precedent for future human rights cases in the state.
